Cap and seal for jars, bottles, &amp;c.



E. s. RICHARDSON. CAP AND SEAL FOR JARS, BOTTLES, Sac.

APPLICATION nuzp Aue.1. 1912.

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W! TIVESSES xwfanmm EUGENE STANLEY RICHARDSON 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GA]? AND SEAL FOR JARS, BOTTLES, 8w.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 11916.

Application filed August 1, 1912. Serial No. 712,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EUGENE STANLEY RICHARDSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caps and Seals for Jars, Bottles, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in caps and seals for jars, bottles, etc., employed as containers for canned goods, preserves, olives, pickles, jams, beers, mineral waters, etc., and it has for its object to pro vide a construction and arrangement of cap and seal by the employment of which the formation and development of mold of the character commonly found either inside or outside of the sealing member is prevented, and also by the employment of which all deterioration which might result from the presence of air in the jar or bottle or moisture without the same is prevented.

It is well known to be a frequent occur rence even in well ordered and carefully managed factories, that after a jar or bottle of such goods as are mentioned above or their analogues have stood for greater or less periods of time, there may be formed and frequently is formed either inside of the seal or outside of the same a mold which is very objectionable, presenting a very unclean appearance to a person who may open the jar, bottle, can or other receptacle, and tends to place the articles so prepared for the mar ket in bad repute. It is an established scientific fact that the formation and development of such mold cannot take place except there be present three factors, namely, air, moisture, and a nutrient.

By my invention, I provide means whereby all of the air is expelled from underneath the seal as the same is placed in position upon the mouth or opening of the receptacle, and I also provide means whereby the moisture outside of the seal and around the edge of the mouth of the jar, bottle or other receptacle, will completely dry in a very short period of time after the filling of the same with its contents.

It will be seen, therefore, that the means provided by me by my invention is capable of altogether preventing the formation and development of the objectionable mold which is with greater or less frequency now found to be present in connection with articles of the character above indicated.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be referred to specifically hereinafter or will be apparent from the descrip tion of my invention.

One form of a convenient embodiment of my nvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that changes in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts may be made within the scope of the claims without departing therefrom.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the top portion of a jar provided with a cap and seal embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section of the top portion of the jar shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the sealing member constituting a part of my in vention.

Having reference to the drawings, 1 designates a jar provided with a cap consisting of the top portion 2 and the screw-threaded flanged part 3 which is adapted to engage screw-threads in the usual manner formed upon the outer surface of the neck 4: of the ar.

Since the purpose of the cap is to secure and hold the sealing member 5 in position against the edges of the mouth of the 1, it is apparent that any other suitable holding means may be substituted for the cap without in any way affecting the sealing action of the sealing member 5. Said sealing member may consist of any suitable material such as relatively thick sheet paper or fiber. When, however, a cap of the character illustrated is employed it is desirable that means be provided in connection therewith for permitting the access of air to and circulation within the space intermediate the top 2 and the sealing member 5 in order that after the jar, bottle or other similar receptacle has been filled and closed and sealed, such space may dry out. For accomplishing this result I provide vents or openings as indicated at 6, in the top 2 of the cap which permit access of air to the top surface of the seal. It will be understood that the number of these holes may be varied to suit the desire and whim of the manufacturer or the user.

For the purpose of permitting access of air to and circulation within the space between the flange 3 and the edge of the sealing member 5 and the upper portion of the neck of the jar, bottle or similar receptacle adjacent the edge of the mouth of the jar or bottle, I provide openings 7 at intervals in such flange. The presence of these openings permits air to enter such space and cause a complete drying out and evaporation of the moisture therefrom. It will be seen, therefore, that by the arrangement and construction shown I have provided a means for eliminating and removing moisture from the parts of the'cap and seal outside of the bottle and thereby destroy and remove one of the factors the presence of which is essential and necessary to the formation and development of the objectionable mold to which reference has heretofore been made.

For the purpose of causing the complete removal of all of the air from the top of the bottle when the seal is placed in position upon the edges of the mouth thereof, I have provided a seal having its body portion inside of the mouth edges of the jar, bottle or receptacle depressed, so that the central point of said seal is its lowest point. The

. seal from such central point is inclined radially upwardly to its outer edge, as is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

- As illustrated, the central body portion of the seal inside the edge of the mouth of the jar is of the shape of a segment of a hollow sphere but it should be understood that this particular shape and configuration is not essential. The essential thing is that one point or portion of the sealing member shall be its lowest point or portion and that the remainder of such sealing member from such lowest point or portion shall be inclined upwardly to the edge of the mouth of the jar, bottle or other receptacle.

The sealing member 5 may consist of any material which may be found to be practicable and efficient. It is to be understood, however, that my present invention has no relation to the material which may be employed in the construction of the sealing member.

Although a cap having a flat top may be employed without losing any of the benefits and advantages to be derived from my invention as thus far described and explained, I prefer to use a cap having a top provided with a raised bearing portion 8 upon its under side and so shaped and positioned as to register with the edge of the mouth of the jar, bottle or other receptacle when in closed position as shown in F ig. 3 of the drawings.

I prefer to form the portion 8 by pressing out the metal of the top of the cap in the manner shown, but it will be understood that it may be formed in any other manner which may be found to be practicable, feasible and desirable.

The purpose of providing the bearing portion 8 is to decrease as much as possible I member with such firmness as to render the unscrewing of the same a difficult matter.

A further advantage of the bearing portion 8 is that by reason of the fact that only a small amount of surface of the cap contacts with the sealing member, the latter is not so apt to be turned upon the edge of the mouth of the bottle as it would be if a greater area of the adjacent surfaces of the top of the cap and the sealing member were in contact. On account of the fact that frequently the edges of the mouths of the jars, bottles, etc., are rough and uneven, it sometimes happens that if rotative movement of the sealing member is occasioned, the inner surfaces thereof against the edges of the mouths of such jars, bottles, etc., are broken. The breaking of such surfaces is particularly objectionable in cases where sealing members are used having their inner surfaces coated with some material which is impervious to moisture and which is capable of resisting any corroding action of the substance which may be contained in the receptacle or container.

In the employment of a sealin member of the shape and form illustrate the jar bottle or other receptacle should be fille with the substance which is to be sealed therein to a point flush with the edge of the mouth of the same and the seal should then be held as nearly as possible in a horizontal position or in a position at right angles to the axis of the jar, bottle or other receptacle, so that the lowest point first comes into contact with the fluid or semi-fluid substance and as the seal is moved downwardly to place it in contact with the edge of the mouth of the jar, bottle, etc., the inner surface thereof will progressively contact with the surface of the liquid and not only expel portions of the liquid from the jar, bottle or other receptacle over the top edges thereof, but also expel all of the air therefrom.

I claim 1. In a cap and seal for a receptacle, the combination of a sealing member having its edge portion supported upon the mouth edge of said receptacle, and the portion thereof inside of said edge portion being depressed so that its central point is its lowest point and such central portion being inclined radially outwardly and upwardly from such central point to the outer edge portion of the said sealing member, a cap having a flange portion adapted to engage the upper end of said receptacle, said cap also having a top which is provided with an annular rib projecting downwardly therefrom, the said rib contacting with the said sealing member in alinement with the edge of the mouth of said receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose stated.

2. In a cap and seal for a receptacle such as a jar or bottle the combination of a seal ing member having its edge supported directly upon the mouth edge of said receptacle, the central portion of said sealing member being primarily permanently shaped and depressed as shown and a cap for securing and holding the said sealing member in position in contact with the mouth edge of a receptacle and the said cap being provided with a raised bearing portion on its under side for contacting with the said sealing member in alinement with the said In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have hereunto signed my name this 31st day of July, A. D. 1912.

EUGENE STANLEY RICHARDSON. In the presence of- CARRIE E. KLEINFELDER, HENRY DICKINSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

